The Shipping Ministry has asked the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) to firm up the terms of reference for the feasibility report to be prepared by the consultant for the proposed deep-sea port in West Bengal.

The Union minister has sanctioned Rs.10 crore for the preparation of the study and has not set any time frame for finalising it. The government has not yet decided to float the tenders for the selection of the consultant.

Since the project will involve huge investment,experts of international repute will prepare the feasibility report.

The KoPT on its own had earlier mooted the proposal for a deep-draft port in Sagar Island, which is not far from the sea, and even tried, unsuccessfully though, for assistance from Japan International Co-operation Agency for undertaking a feasibility report on the project.

The proposed study on the deep-sea port will also consider Sagar Island as a probable location.

Also see:

Centre approves Bengal's deep sea port plan (12-Dec-05)